HARARE (Xinhua) -- Roy Bennett, a key figure in the current political standoff in Zimbabwe, was given more time pending a trial after prosecutors decided on Saturday to put it off until next week.
Bennett, an associate of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was indicted on charges of terrorism and jailed this week before released on bail late Friday. He was accused of illegal possession of arms for terrorism.
Posecutors agreed to postpone the trial after Bennett's lawyers complained about short time for the legal case.
On Friday, Tsvangirai announced that ministers from his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party would no longer participate in Cabinet and Council of Ministers meetings until all outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement were resolved.
The inclusive government was formed in February by President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the MDC led by Tsvangirai. The coalition has since led to the improved market of basic commodities and renewed confidence in the country's economic performance.
Tsvangirai's announcement of partial withdrawal from the coalition is seen by some citizens as ominous. They fear that it could swing the country towards economic decay once again.
